Medicaid expansion backers rally at Ohio Capitol

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- An estimated 2,500 demonstrators have assembled at the Ohio Statehouse to urge state lawmakers to extend Medicaid coverage under the federal health care law.

Thursday's rally follows a decision by Ohio House Republicans to strip the expansion plan from the budget.

Roughly 366,000 Ohioans would be eligible for health coverage beginning in 2014 under the expansion, and Ohio would see $13 billion from the federal government over the next seven years to pay for the newly eligible.